Melbourne MICA
Forum Captain
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I was wondering if ambulance and firefighting staff in the US and Canadian EMS systems are covered by a system of workplace and staff protection from injury and illness like the Occupational Health and Safety system that operates here in Australia.
OH&S here is very powerful legislation covering all workplaces designed to mandate protections for all workers in the design, construction and operation of all workplaces and the equipment, machinery, tools, systems of operation etc used in the workplace.
The essence of the legislation is an overall shared responsibility in workplace safety but with a strong emphasis on the employer to protect workers from any kind of harm. There are many deaths and injuries in workplaces every day and for example in ambulance lifting injuries are commonplace. Our employers are obliged (legally and with heavy penalties for breaches) to provide equipment (like the gear you carry into jobs) that minimises the risk of injury.
Each and every ambulance station has a designated health and safety rep who has the power to enforce a Worksafe inspection by the government agency called Worksafe Australia and even to put a hold on operations or equipment that he/she deems is not safe to use. The employer has to comply in evaluating the risk and more importantly doing something about it. The penalties for breaches or non-compliance are severe.
Any thoughts guys?
MM
OH&S here is very powerful legislation covering all workplaces designed to mandate protections for all workers in the design, construction and operation of all workplaces and the equipment, machinery, tools, systems of operation etc used in the workplace.
The essence of the legislation is an overall shared responsibility in workplace safety but with a strong emphasis on the employer to protect workers from any kind of harm. There are many deaths and injuries in workplaces every day and for example in ambulance lifting injuries are commonplace. Our employers are obliged (legally and with heavy penalties for breaches) to provide equipment (like the gear you carry into jobs) that minimises the risk of injury.
Each and every ambulance station has a designated health and safety rep who has the power to enforce a Worksafe inspection by the government agency called Worksafe Australia and even to put a hold on operations or equipment that he/she deems is not safe to use. The employer has to comply in evaluating the risk and more importantly doing something about it. The penalties for breaches or non-compliance are severe.
Any thoughts guys?
MM